BUENOS AIRES 2018: Australia’s 3x3 basketball team capped off their remarkable underdog campaign winning bronze at the Buenos Aires 2018 Youth Olympics.
After suffering a nailbiting defeat in the morning’s semi-final against France, 20-19 in overtime, the Australian team of Alex Fowler, Ruby Porter, Sara-Rose Smith and Rosie Deegan bounced back to defeat China 16-13 and take bronze.
The team, who have only played as a 3x3 team since one week before the Youth Olympics, were ecstatic to finish in the medals after coming in as big underdogs.
“It’s a surreal feeling, to be standing on the podium in front of the whole world representing Australia, I can’t describe it,” said Smith.
“To see the sea of green and gold out there supporting us, winning bronze, it’s an incredible feeling.”
The Australians knew they had the game locked up with 30 seconds to go, after fighting back from a sluggish start where they trailed by 4 points early on.
“The last seconds of the game just felt so incredible, to think how far we’ve come in the last couple of weeks, we just love it,” said Porter.
“We jumped on each other when the game finished, Smith grazed her elbow celebrating but it’s definitely worth it!”
The team, all aged 17, showed maturity beyond their years to bounce back to play for bronze just 90 minutes after losing a heartbreaking semi-final in overtime.
Canberra-based Deegan said their finals performance showed the team’s strength of character.
“We were devastated after the France loss, but credit to the girls we bounced back really quickly – we’re a resilient group,” she said.
“And despite missing out on gold and silver it’s all that much sweeter to be able to finish on a win for bronze.”
It was an emotional finish for the team, embracing each other and their Australian support crew.
“My brother grabbed me after the game, he started crying, I started crying, he kept saying ‘I’m so proud of you’ – I’m so blessed to have my family over here supporting,” said Smith.
“It’s a true blessing to have our family and supporters over here.”
The team came into the tournament ranked as one of the lowest teams, but Townsville local Fowler said the team used that underdog status to drive them to the medal podium.
“It’s amazing coming into the competition ranked almost last, then getting through top of the pool and winning a bronze,” she said. It hasn’t sunk in yet, but it’s incredible.”
Deegan credited the tight bond and great support for driving the team to bronze.
“We’re so grateful for all the support here and back home, it’s not our win it’s for all of them and we’re so happy we could bring it home,” she said.
“We’re so grateful to have had the opportunity to compete here, the competition has been first class and we have so much respect for the other teams and for each other, I love these girls, we’re bronze medallists!”
3x3 Basketball will make its summer Olympics debut at Tokyo 2020.
Dom Sullivan
olympics.com.au
